Container for radioactive samples



Dec. 5, 1950 J. F. GIFFORD 2,533,102

CONTAINER FOR RADIOACTIVE SAMPLES Filed Sept. 28, 1948 zllll /lb9llfflilll- VAI|IWI7YI%:H1III-l fig, m5: fi [5;

ZNVENTOR. Jahn F. Gifford ?atenteol Dec. 5, 1956 2,533,102 CONTAINER FOR RADIOACTIVE SAMPLES John F. Gifford, Richmond, Califl, assignor to f America as represented the United States by the United States At sion omic Energy Commis- Application September 28, 1948, Serial No. 51,581

This invention relates to carrying containers or transporters for samples of radioactive material. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a manually transportable carrier or container which provides a shield against radioactivity and which has a plurality of chambers within it for carrying radioactive samples to any of which, access may readily be had.

In research in connection with radioactivity and nuclear physics, manipulations and techniques are performed with various samples or specimens of material which are radioactive and it is often necessary to carry or transport one sample or specimen or a plurality of them from one point to another. It becomes imperative, therefore, to have a device or means whereb the samples may be transported or transferred keeping them completely separate from each other and maintaining them within shielding material for the protection of personnel from radioactivity.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a shielded or shielding carrier or transfer device having multiple chambers therein for radioactive specimens, access being readily possible to any individual chamber.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shielded or shielding carrier or transporter for radioactive specimens formed of a plurality of pivoted overlying leaves in the form of trays and formed of shielding material, each leaf bein swingable about its pivot to provide access to the specimen carried in that individual leaf or tray, and each leaf forming a shielding cover for the one below it.

Another object is to provide a carrier having pivoted leaves or trays as in the foregoing, wherein a plurality of pivoted trays is provided at the same level in the assembly, having contiguous contours on the sides of the leaves which abut when they are swung inwardlyand being shaped to provide a smooth exterior contour when they are in their inward position.

Further objects and numerous advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawing wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. a

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Figure 4.

1 Claim. (Cl. 312-152) Referring to the drawing seen in Figures 2 and 3, the invention comprises a plurality of overlying leaves or trays l0 and H which are generally semi-circular and having flat sides which abut when the leaves are in their normal carrying position. The leaves Iii and II are rotatably mounted in pairs on vertical standards l2 and is. extending between top and bottorn discs or plates -14 and I5, respectively. The standards 62 and i3 about which the leaves Ill and it may pivot, are screw threaded into the bottom plate l5 as shown and they have screw breaded portions extending through the top plate Hi having nuts secured thereon as shown at It and l! on Figure 1 which assist in holding the parts in assembled relationship. As shown, the standards 62 and i3 each have shoulders adjacent the screw threaded portions which abut the top and bottom plates i i and 5 to thus serve to space the top and bottom plates. A third similar standard 58 is provided on the opposite side of the assembly from the standards l2 and i3 and it similarl has shoulders to space the top and bottom plates it and i5 and it similarly is and as may be best 0 screw threaded into the bottom plate It; and is secured to the top plate It by a nut 29.

As may be seen in Figure 4, the leaves Ill and i i are symmetrical and when the leaves of a pair are in abutting relationship, their common exterior contour generally is in the shape of a disc or" the same size as the :cover plates it and 15. Each of the leaves forms a tray for a sample or specimen of radioactive material which may be swung outwardly on its standard from the assembly to provide access to the specimen in the tray, the leaves normally overlying each other such that each leaf forms a cover for the one below it. It will be understood of course, that the entire assembly is made of a material providing shielding against radioactivity such as aluminum or lead. Each Of the trays H has two shallow circular depressions or cavities 22 which form the carrying space of the tray. The side walls of these cavities are not continuous, there being provided notches or grooves 23 of the same depth which connect the cavities 22 to the flat inner side of each tray H. The purpose of the notches 23 is to facilitate the removal of radioactive specimens from the [cavities 22 by means of a tweezer, for example, the specimens, in accordance with normally practiced techniques bein carried on flat circular discs which are placed in cavities 22.

Each leaf or tray It has a similar but relatively larger depression or cavity 25 which forms the carrying space of the tray and this cavity similarly is connected to the flat side of the tray by a notch or groove 26 which has the same purpose as the notches 23. Each of the trays I 0 and H has a semi-circular indentation on its fiat side to accommodate the vertical standard l8 when the trays are in their inwardly abutting position.

The assembly includes a carrying ring or handie 2 which is attached to the top plate l4 by a screw 28 extending upwardly through plate H5. From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe that the assembled leaves or trays form a composite assembly constituting a convenient carrier or transporter for radioactive materials. Each specimen or sample is contained in its own individual chamber or compartment within the assembly, wherein it is efiectively shielded by the assembly itself, which, as pointed out, is constructed of shielding material, each overlying tray forming a cover for the tray below it. Access to any individual specimen may readily be had by swinging indivitual leaves outwardly on their pivots.

It is to be understood that the foregoing disclosure of a preferred form of the invention is 5 illustrative only and is not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention as it is intended to claim the invention as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a carrier for radioactive samples, in combination, spaced top and bottom plates having spacer members therebetween, a plurality of closely overlying leaves in the form of trays pivoted to said members to swing thereabout, said leaves including a pair of leaves at the same level mounted to swing outwardly in opposite directions and having contiguous adjacent sides which abut when the pair of leaves are swung inwardly, said plates and leaves being formed of shielding material and each of said pair of leaves having a tray-forming depression in its upper surface and .a channel extending between said depression and the side which abuts the other of the said pair of leaves.

JOHN F. GIFFORD.

REFERENCES CITED he following references are of record in the file of :this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 147,482 Winterfield Sept. 9, 1947 405,003 Blackiedge June 11, 1889 1,759,051 Henderson May 20, 1930 1,831,401 Weidlich et al Nov. 10, 1931 

